Woman flees into woods to escape abusive husband

An East Texas woman escaped into the woods with her children in Van Zandt County to escape years of torture from her husband, KLTV in Tyler reported.

“On March 22 our office received a call of a woman who was picked up off of County Road 4512 who had two small children and appeared to have been assaulted,” said (Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Kristin) Holt.

Holt said 29-year-old Josh Holden abused and tortured his wife for seven years and kept her locked in this house, until she finally escaped.

“She fled into the woods with her two small children for her safety. She felt that when he returned home from taking their seven-year-old to school he was going to kill her,” said Holt.

Just before his wife escaped, Holden beat her with a bat and jumper cables because their car wouldn’t start, Holt said. She is recovering in a hospital with two broken legs and head injuries.

She hid in the woods for two days before she was picked up and taken to the Van Police Department.

Holden was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and bodily injury. He was released Monday after posting bail.

The couple’s three children are staying with a foster family, the TV station reported.